AREA TEENS SMOKING, DRINKING LESS; BUT ROAD DEATHS UP

San Diego County's children are smoking fewer cigarettes and drinking less
alcohol. And there are fewer teens getting pregnant.

That's the good news out of a report the county released yesterday on the
well-being of the region's young people.

The bad news is that the percentage of youths who considered suicide is
growing. So, too, is the rate of young people killed or injured in vehicle
crashes where alcohol or drugs were involved.

"We're definitely very happy with the positive results, but there are still
a number of things that are of great concern to us," said Dr. Rodger Lum,
director of the county's Health and Human Services Agency.

The information came from the fourth annual report card on children's
health and well-being. It is a compilation of statistics and survey answers
gathered from government agencies and school districts. This year's report
looks at data for 22 areas.

The report is not comprehensive. For example, the most recent data for some
of the areas is from the year 2000. Also, some of the topics examined do
not include data from all agencies or districts.

County officials say the information is important because it helps them
plan what health issues to focus on and what programs might be needed.

The report showed that the percentage of students who reported drinking
alcohol had declined the last two years. For the same period, there also
was a decline in students who reported smoking marijuana.

The study does not offer an explanation for the decline in those areas. Lum
credited the job done by several nonprofit organizations that work with the
county on youth issues.

Palavra Tree in Southcrest, for example, holds classes and discussions with
area youths to warn them about the dangers of smoking.

Cleo Jones, the program's director, said despite what the county report
said youth smoking is a bigger problem in urban areas like his.

"It's down in general, but it's up in this southeast area," Jones said. "We
know for sure it's not down. It's up."

A trend that showed a decline in teen pregnancies continued, according to
the report. The teen pregnancy rate is down from 41.9 per 1,000 teens in
1994 to 24.4 in 2000.

Katie Ashford, a manager for a Vista youth program, said the decline
mirrors nationwide figures and reflects increased attention paid to the issue.

Her program, called Project REACH, emphasizes abstinence but also talks
about safe sex practices.

Antonio Becerra, 16, an Alta Vista High School student, said he found the
program helpful.

Becerra said he didn't know about the consequences and risks associated
with sex until he started attending the program about two years ago.

"I've had situations where this information has helped me," he said.

Another Project REACH student, Janet Mendoza, said it's hard for Latino
students to discuss intimate issues with their parents or with school
officials.

"You don't get much attention," said Mendoza, 18. "Here, you can talk to
people about problems."

Lum cautioned that the good results in the report could be threatened by
the state budget crisis because about 60 percent of the funding for the
county's health programs comes from the state.

"We have every reason to be concerned about how those cuts are going to
trickle down," Lum said.

A copy of the health report is available from the county's Web site at
http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov. Click on the link for the health agency, then
click on the link for reports.